Flexible pushbroom



Aug. l2, 1952 F. D. wlEsMAN 2, 606,335

FLEXIBLE PusHBRooM Filed March 25, 1946 8) /6 Trae/vii Patented Aug. 12, 1952 si Y y `2,606,35Q-I. FLEXIBLE PUsHBRooM Application March 25,

This invention relates to brushes andv particularly to those brushes known commonly as push broomsf As is well known, push brooms usually consist of a wooden head which holds the bristles and to which a haridle is attached so that the broom may easily be pushed ahead of the operator to sweep the floor. When sweeping a floor encumbered by various impedimenta, such as chair legs, radiator legs, etc., there is presented the problem of sweeping in between such objects with a broom which is wider than the distances between the objects. This necessitates turning the broom sideways and going through sundry maneuvers in order to get the place between the objects clean. At best, it entails a certain aggravation and a definite loss in energy and time even if-it is possible to clean the desired space with a standard brush.

The present invention does away with these losses by making the broom head flexible. Thus, when sweeping between objects where the space between them is smaller than the width of the broom head, the head, upon encountering an unyielding object, gives or yields, itself, allowing the broom to pass the objects in either direction.

Various objects, features and structural details will be apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of one form of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation of the parts of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a form of the invention similar to that of Fig. l, but having different yielding devices.

Referring to Figs. l and 2, there is shown a push broom having a main body portion I which is in general, inflexible or at least is fairly so. This portion I contains bristles and is yieldingly attached to a pair of end portions 2 by means of strips 3 of suitable yieldable material such, for example, as spring steel.

Where the main body joins the end portions, each of which also carries bristles, the main body and end portions are cut in at angles so as to allow them to move approximately ninety degrees relative to each other, although more movement could easily be allowed by varying the angular cuts of the brush sections.

The strips 3 may be held in place by any suitable means such as pins 4. The main body I is drilled and tapped at 5 to receive the usual threaded handle (not shown).

From the foregoing, it is seen that in use, if

i I Frank .Wiesmam New York, Y;

1946, serialNmssasss 2 claims. (Cxfiitsmi this broom were to encounter an unyielding object on either side, the end portion 2 would give and allow the broom to passl without deliecting it from its path. The flexible joints of Figs. 1 and 2 may be modified in a number of ways, one of which is shown in Fig. 3.

In Fig. 3, the main body portion I2 is yieldingly connected to its end portions I3 by means of springs I4 which lie in channels Ma in the portions I2 and I3 and which are connected to them by screws or by any other suitable means.

Both of the aforementioned yielding devices are made stiff enough so that they will not allow the end portions of the broom to wobble to any appreciable extent, and they will really only yield when they encounter an unyielding object.

It is to be noted that regardless of the particular forms of the invention shown and described, myinventive concept always includes the yieldability o'f the brush body.

'It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved, and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A oor sweeping push broom brush head body comprising a central section, an end brush head section flexibly connected to each end of the central section, the bristles of all the sections terminating in a common plane for application to a floor surface, all the sections being normally retained in a straight line, the ends of adjacent sections being tapered off towards one another in converging planes which are normal to said common plane of the bristle ends, the connections being of yieldable resilient material the tapered end of each end section abutting the respective end of the central section and said end sections being swingable relative to the central section in a single plane parallel to said common plane of the bristle ends.

2. A floor sweeping push broom brush head body comprising a central section and two end sections, the bristles of all sections terminating in a common plane for application to a floor sur# face and all the sections being normally retained in a straight line, the central section having a mortised recess extending downwardly from itsv upper surface along its longitudinal medial line at each of its ends, said recess extending through said ends, each end section having a similar recess extending inwardly from its end which confronts the end of the central section, with its recess registering with the corresponding central section recess, a spring disposed in the registered recesses and extending across the joint between the central section and the respective end section, each end of the spring being anchored to its respective section, the ends of adjacent sections being tapered oi towards one another in converging planes which are normal to said common plane of the bristle ends, the tapered end of each endl section abutting the corresponding end of the central section Vwhereby 'said end sections are swingable relative to the central section in a single plane parallel to said common t' plane of the bristle ends.

FRANK D. l

REFERENCES CITED le of this patent:

Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Eagle Feb. 27, 1866 Brown Nov. 17, 1868 Scott Sept. 11, 1888 Farrand June 1, 1897 Hurvitz Nov. 7, 1899 McHenry Oct. 2, 1906 Izawa .v l- Sept. 4, 1923 Brock 4-' -V v v Sept. 29, 1925 Brock Oct. 23, 1928 Castle Oct. 7, 1930 Page Apr. 30, 1935 Driesch Jan. 7, 1941 Cromie Aug. 5, 1941 Griiiith Sept. 2, 1941 McPhee Mar. 24, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date 20 Number :France Mar. 5, 1,928 

